Former McDonald County Prosecutor’s Office clerk faces theft charges

Monday

A former clerk in the McDonald County Prosecutor’s Office has been charged with stealing.

A former clerk in the McDonald County Prosecutor’s Office has been charged with stealing.

Tammy R. Young, 42, of Goodman, said she had been diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects the bones and soft tissues, most commonly the pelvis, femur, humerus and ribs.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by McDonald County Sheriff Robert Evenson, Young told co-workers she was being treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Okla., and at St. John’s Regional Medical Center and Freeman Health Systems, both located in Joplin. She told co-workers she’d been diagnosed with the disease in February 2008.

“In reliance upon Ms. Young’s assertions, her co-workers and employees of the McDonald County Circuit Court did endeavor to assist her in her financial needs through two fundraisers,” wrote Evenson in the affidavit. “Ms. Young actually participated in these fundraising events. Ms. Young sent out letters of solicitation for funds. She also assisted in the solicitation of items for a silent auction to be held for her benefit. Ms. Young also designed T-shirts to be worn by her and her co-workers at her fundraisers.”

The fundraisers, held April 30 and May 16, netted about $10,000 for Young.

In July, Young was fired from the prosecutor’s office, and appeared before the McDonald County Commission on Aug. 5 to protest her termination, Evenson said in his affidavit. At that time, she told the commission she was receiving regular treatment for Ewing’s Sarcoma from Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s Tulsa facility. Evenson wrote she also said she’d collected all of her treatment records from the Tulsa hospital so she could complete Family Medical Leave Act paperwork.

“When copies of that paperwork were requested by the McDonald County commissioners, Ms. Young told them that she had ‘taken it back to them,’ ” Evenson wrote.

“At the request of the McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, I did assist in several investigative subpoenas,” the sheriff said. “The returns on those subpoenas indicate Ms. Young has received no treatment at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Okla., St. John’s Health, Joplin, or Freeman Hospital, Joplin,” Evenson wrote. “Based on this, I did begin a series of attempts to contact Ms. Young. [She] could not name any physician who diagnosed her with cancer or name any facility at which she had ever received treatment. On Aug. 19, Ms. Young did admit to me in a telephone communication that she has never been diagnosed or treated for cancer in the United States.”

Young posted a $10,000 property bond. Pineville attorney Duane Cooper has been assigned as special prosecutor in the case, as Young’s former boss, Prosecutor Janice Durbin, had to recuse herself from the case. Young is represented by Neosho attorney C. Ross Rhoades. An arraignment has been set for 10 a.m. Aug. 31.